WoD Hunter Guide to Challenge Modes

Challenge Mode dungeon difficulty was first introduced in Mists of Pandaria and become popular with players looking to push their skills to the limit, as well as obtain some desirable and unique rewards. In Warlords of Draenor, Blizzard made some changes to ensure that these dungeons remain challenging as players obtain better gear. A few quick points about these changes:

All of your gear scales down to 630, which means you need to have at least 630 gear in each slot to be competitive

Any tertiary stats are ignored, which includes Avoidance, Leech and Speed

Specs, Talents and Glyphs

Recent changes to Hunters in Warlords of Draenor made all three specs fairly competitive in raiding, but Challenge Modes work slightly differently. Surival is currently the best spec to use for raiding, but benefits greatly from better gear and Tier bonuses. This makes it the worst spec to use in Challenge Mode dungeons.

The ideal scenario if you are going for ultra-competitive times would be using Beast Mastery for AoE situations (on trash) and Marksmanship for single target (on Boss fights).

Talent Choices

If you plan to use Beast Mastery only and not switch to Marksmanship for boss pulls, use the single target recommendations for stats and talents below. If you plan to switch between the two specs, select the AoE recommendations below.

Level 15: Narrow Escape is very useful to snare trash packs and reduce the damage on your tank, while allows you to use your Deterrence more if you get asked to soak damage on bossesLevel 30: Binding Shot is the best option as it gives you a snare that can affect multiple targets, as opposed to Intimidation that affects just oneLevel 45: Iron Hawk is slightly better, but can also be usedLevel 60: is the best option for AoE, while Dire Beast is better for single targetLevel 75: A Murder of Crows is the best option for single target, while Blink Strikes is good for AoE Level 90: Barrage is the biggest boost to DPS, but has a tendency to pull extra packs of mobs and thus causing wipes. is less DPS, but a safer option.Level 100: Adaptation is the best option

Stat PriorityMastery and Critical Strike are the best stats for Beast Mastery overall, especially at this gear level. Try and get Mastery in every slot. Haste is a stronger stat than Critical Strike for AoE.

Talent ChoicesLevel 15: Narrow Escape is very useful to snare trash packs and reduce the damage on your tank, while allows you to use your Deterrence more if you get asked to soak damage on bossesLevel 30: Binding Shot is the best option as it gives you a snare that can affect multiple targets, as opposed to Intimidation that affects just oneLevel 45: Iron Hawk is the best optionLevel 60: is the best optionLevel 75: A Murder of Crows is the best optionLevel 90: Barrage is the biggest boost to DPS, but has a tendency to pull extra packs of mobs and thus causing wipes, which makes a safer option.Level 100: Lone Wolf is the best option

Comments

Comment by discobranson

Important to note: for gearing up, the garrison mission gear is able to roll double value of the same stat. For example, instead of 80 crit 80 mastery it may have 160 mastery. Completely RNG but don't ignore the missions if you're going for CM BiS.

Comment by Chaosquo

Before writing a guide, please look at other resources: Azortharion's Guide and this post: Detailed simulations. Both have sections on CM stat priorities that say Mastery with either Haste or Multistrike.

The BM talents are also wrong, for lvl 60 its either Dire Beast or Steady Focus, for lvl 75 Blink Strikes is very strong, and if you cant avoid pulling additional packs with Barrage, you have other problems than the correct stat and talent selection. Its quite easy to either stay at max range or turn your camera to only face the mobs you want to hit.

The Glyph of Animal Bond does not depend on the Spirit Bond talent at all.

Also Drums of Fury do work in CMs.

Comment by Rayanna

Under marksmanship legs, should those be Ashlink Legguards? You currently have linked the feet.

Comment by Verenda

As a PVE BM hunter, I have to say that crit is not ideal. Your first priority stat is always mastery, followed by multistrike, then haste for challenge modes.

Comment by Roflhunt

Dude, honestly...Fix the gear...there is so many times where I've been looking at a piece of armor only to find it not actually for that slot. VERY infuriating if, like me, you're trying to gear up.

Comment by gmack28

Anyone have a macro to quickly swap Glyph of Deterrence with Mirrored Blades and vice-versa?

Comment by Gesika6

You added 'Primal Gladiator's Waistguard of Prowess' in the hands option for MM...

Comment by Icku

Thrill of the Hunt is better for BM since packs doesn't last long enough to let you gain real benefit from steady focus since after your Bestial Wrath expires they're dead while all you're doing during BW is spamming Multi-Shot. Dire Beast damage and focus generation is negligible. As for single target the best option is Stampede not AMoC.

You missed glyph of mirrored blades which can be used to kill few bossess and/or mobs way faster (like council in everbloom, second boss in iron docks, trash pack before last boss in bloodmaul slagmines).